Bridle-bit.



PATENTED JULY 14, 1903,

W. T. TEMPLE.

BRIDLE BIT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

W/ TNE SSE S.

A TTOH/VE Y S.

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UNITED STATES Patented July 14,1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

BRlDLE-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 733,769, dated July 14,1903.

7 Application filed July 16,1902. Serial No. 115,672. (No model.)

' Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new and Improved Bridle-Bit, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide a riding or driving bit whichmay be used on such animals as have tender mouths or the reverse andafiord means for the control of the animal in case it becomes fractiousand is hard in the mouth, but that will ordinarily serve to guide ananimal without hurting the mouth.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, asis hereinafter described, and defined in I the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a side view of the improved bit applied .for service. Fig. 2is an enlarged side view of the same detached. Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view substantially on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4; is atransverse sectional view substantially on the line 4 4 in Fig. 2.

The improvement comprises two bits in one construction so connected thatby a gentle pull on the bridle or driving-lines the horse or otheranimal may be guided as usual; but when in case of fright or other causethe animal becomes unruly and attempts to run away hard pulling upon thebit will bring into service the check-bit, which will produce severestrain on the animals mouth and arrest the attempt before injury is doneto the animal or the driver.

In carrying into effect the features of in-.

vention, A represents an ordinary bridle composed of the duplicatedcheek-strap a, nosestrap 6, throat-latch strap a, head-stall d, andforehead-strap 6, these parts being connected in the usual manner, so asto fit upon the head B of a horse.

The check-bit consists of a transverse bar 5, coupled at each end with aring 6, and, as shown in Fig. 1, one end of the nose-strap b is joinedto one of these bit-rings 6, it being understood that the other end ofsaid nosestrap is in a like manner connected with the other bit-ring 6.

The driving-bit, which coacts with the check-bit for the control of ananimal, is in the form of two link-bars 7, jointed together by tworing-eyes 7 as represented in Fig. 3,

wherein one of said link-bars is shown complete and the other one brokenaway, it being obvious thatv for effective service both linkbars shouldbe alike in length and shape.

Upon the outer ends of the link-bars 7 the similar draft-rings 8 areaffixed, and each of said rings is preferably furnished with a dependingguard-limb 9. A boss-like enlargement '7 is formed on the outer end ofeach link-bar 7, through which enlargement the duplicate rings 8 passand in which said rings are respectively secured, so as to give theguard-limbs 9 the same downward inclination.

Above the bosses 7 a guide-bar 8 is formed or secured on each ring 8,said guide-bars having their ends bent a like degree, as shown in Fig.3, and said bent ends joined upon the outer side of a draft-ring 8, thusaffording a slot-like openingg between the guide-bar and the surface ofthe ring. A connecting-bar 10 is provided to couple each ring 6 with theforward end of the bridle-rein 11, as shown in Fig. 1. Theconnecting-bars 10 each pass through a respective slot-like opening gintermediately of its ends, one of said ends of the bar being looselyconnected with a ring 6 and the other end provided with aloop formationh.

The ends of the driving bridle strap or rein 11, which are respectivelyattached upon the In service the animal may be guided effectively bygently pulling on the proper end of the bridle strap or rein, which pullwill be transmitted to the rings 6 by the connectingbar 10, jointed uponsaid rings, and more directly to the rings 8 on the jointed bit-bar 7.

If from any cause the beast becomes unmanageable, by employment of theimproved bit the driver can produce' a very severe strain upon thetongue and corners of the animals mouth by forcibly drawing upon thereins 11 so as to jam both bars 5 and 7 into the corners of the mouth,the bar 5 pressing downward on the joint 7, so as to cause it to bearforcibly upon said joint and press the tongue painfully beneath thejoint 7, the up permost bit-bar 5 coacting with the main or driving bit7 to worry the fractious animal and arrest its speed or prevent anyattempt by the animal to get control of the reins by taking the bit inits teeth.

A very advantageous feature of the invention consists in the safetyafforded in case of the accidental breakage of the jointed driving-bit7, as the check-bit 10 will remain in the mouth of the animal and enablethe driver to control the animal, which otherwise would be released fromcontrol if the two separate bits, both connected with the driving-lines,were not employed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination with a check-bit,co1nprising aplain bar, and a ring on each end of the bar, of a driving-bit embodyingtwo draft-rings each having a slot-like opening, a jointed cross-barattached at its ends upon the draft-rings, and bars for connecting therings on the driving-bit with each drivingrein, said connecting-barshaving slidable engagement within the slot-like openings.

2. The combination with a check-bit, comprising a plain cross-bar and aring secured upon each end of said bar, of a driving-bit, embodying across-bar jointed at its center of length, two draft-rings secured onthe ends of said jointed cross-bar, each draft-ring having a slot-likeopening, a connecting-bar passed through each slot or opening and acrossthe draft-ring, said connecting-bars being respectively jointed upon thecheck-bit rings, and means for securing the other ends of theconnecting-bars upon the ends of a driving strap or rein.

3. The combination with a bridle, of a bit device composed of acheck-bit bar, plain in its body, and two rings on the ends of said bar,a cross-bar jointed at its center of length, two draft-rings, eachhaving a slot-like opening above their junction with the cross-bar, aguard-limb depending from each draftring, and two similar connectingbars attached by one end of each bar upon a respective check-bit ring,and furnished at the opposite end of each bar with a loop for connectionwith the lapped end of a bridle-rein, which at its fold engages arespective draftring.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM T. TEMPLE.

YVitnesses:

WILLIAM E. RILEY, EDWARD Y. TEMPLE.

